What’s In a Name delves into the fascinating stories and personalities behind some of the city’s best-known street names. This week the Journal looks at Moysey Lane, named for Susannah.
The Revitalising Central Dandenong project created the north-south connector between George Street and Halpin Way that’s now known as Moysey Lane.
Greater Dandenong Council agreed to the name in 2013 as part of a plan to reflect Dandenong’s diversity and history.
Dandenong and District Historical Society members and a leading heritage consultant revealed the site’s historic connection to Susannah Brown Moysey, nee Treeby.
Susannah was born in Modbury, England, in 1825.
She married Ugborough-born James Bickford Moysey at age 18, in 1843.
Together with James’ cousin Nicholas, they took up an offer from the Port Phillip District, later Victoria, to travel to Port Phillip for 18/14/0 each.
They arrived aboard the Sea Queen in April 1844. James was thought to be the first white settler in Beaumaris.
Susannah was a devoted Christian and had for many years dreamed of a church in Dandenong.
In September 1892, failing health forced her to give up her weekly trips to Berwick to meet with fellow Christians.
With help from family members she visited and brought together local people for a Sunday communion service in the old Salvation Army Citadel at Walker and Langhorne streets until it was burnt down in 1895 – the year of Susannah’s death.
Her efforts, and her family’s, strengthened the Dandenong Church of Christ congregation and led to a weatherboard church being built on the south-west corner of George and Robinson streets in 1904.
The church opened on 28 August following 11 weeks of construction by builder David Brown for the cost of 500 pounds.
Volunteers added a Sunday school to the church’s rear for 140 pounds in early 1918.
Further working bees lined the hall and built the kitchen.
The church housed numerous religious groups including the Assembly of God (until 1977), the United Pentecostal Fellowship and the Church of the Word.
In October 2000, spiritual movement Sant Nirankari Mission bought the church and hall.
Places Victoria acquired it in 2009 to as part of Revitalising Central Dandenong.
James died in 1889 on his Narre Warren Farm at the age of 80.
Susannah lived with her daughter, Elizabeth, until she died in 1895, aged 70.
